Strengthening public health and primary care collaboration through electronic health records

Abstract

Electronic health records (EHRs) have great potential to serve as a catalyst for more effective coordination between public health departments and primary care providers (PCP) in maintaining healthy communities. As a system for documenting patient health data, EHRs can be harnessed to improve public health surveillance for communicable and chronic illnesses. EHRs facilitate clinical alerts informed by public health goals that guide primary care physicians in real time in their diagnosis and treatment of patients. As health departments reassess their public health agendas, the use of EHRs to facilitate this agenda in primary care settings should be considered. PCPs and EHR vendors, in turn, will need to configure their EHR systems and practice workflows to align with public health priorities as these agendas include increased involvement of primary care providers in addressing public health concerns.

FIGURE 1—

Percentage of patient visits at New York City sites for influenza-like illness (ILI): Institute for Family Health, June 8–December 4, 2009.

FIGURE 2—

Percentage of patient visits at New York State’s Mid-Hudson Valley sites for influenza-like illness (ILI): Institute for Family Health, June 8–December 4, 2009.

FIGURE 3—

Institute for Family Health office visits in which patients aged 18 years and older have documented HIV test result or self-reported HIV status: 2009–2011.

FIGURE 4—

Exchange of health data between public health, primary care, individuals, and communities.